Bible Dictionary
Nahaliel
Nahaliel was an Israelite encampment on the journey from the Arnon toward the plains of Moab. Its exact location is uncertain, though it was likely a valley or tributary east of the Jordan.
Definition
Nahaliel was an Israelite encampment during the journey from the Arnon toward the plains of Moab. Its name means “valley of God” or “torrent valley of God.”
Biblical Usage
Nahaliel is listed in Numbers 21:19 between Mattanah and Bamoth, among the stopping places of Israel’s latter journey toward Canaan.
Historical Background
Its exact location is uncertain. Proposed identifications include a tributary of the Arnon, Wady Waleh, and Wady Zerqa Ma’in east of the Jordan.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Possession, or valley of God, one of the encampments of the Israelites in the wilderness (Num. 21:19), on the confines of Moab. This is identified with the ravine of the Zerka M’ain, the ancient Callirhoe, the hot springs on the east of the Jordan, not far from the Dead Sea.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(torrents of God), one of the halting-places of Israel in the latter part of their progress to Canaan. (Numbers 21:19) It lay “beyond,” that is, north of, the Amen, ver. (Numbers 21:13) and between Mattanah and Bamoth, the next after Bamoth being Pisgah.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>na-ha'-li-el, na-hal'-i-el (nachali'el, "torrent valley of God"; Codex Vaticanus Manael; Codex Alexandrinus Naaliel): A place where Israel encamped on the way from Arnon to Jericho, named with Mattanah and Bamoth (Nu 21:19). Eusebius, Onomasticon places it near to the Arnon. It is natural to seek for this "torrent valley" in one of the tributaries of the Arnon. It may be Wady Waleh, which drains a wide area to the Northeast of the Arnon; or perhaps Wady Zerqa Ma`in farther to the North.</p>